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The Sparrow and the Oak Tree
Unicorns don't exist, and dragons aren't real, but the Fae are. And they are to be feared.
Or so the tales say.
As the sole sorceress within the Lion King's court and kingdom Isolde is valued for her power, provided she fulfills the king's commands.
Her task? Deal with a child who has emerged from a forest no one has returned from in over one hundred years.As Isolde works to fulfill her order, accompanied by her nameless guardian, she'll encounter a creature she's only heard of through myth and legend...
When he kidnaps her.
Or so the tales say.
As the sole sorceress within the Lion King's court and kingdom Isolde is valued for her power, provided she fulfills the king's commands.
Her task? Deal with a child who has emerged from a forest no one has returned from in over one hundred years.As Isolde works to fulfill her order, accompanied by her nameless guardian, she'll encounter a creature she's only heard of through myth and legend...
When he kidnaps her.
395 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2023
11 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 9, 2023
Tristan and Isolde is one of my all time favorite stories so when I saw The Sparrow and the Oak Tree was a retelling I just knew I had to read it. And then there's the addition of fae?! What's not to love?!
This romantic fantasy was absolutely marvelous. The romance between Tristan (Oak) and Isolde (Sparrow) was the ideal combination of sweet and spicy. The chemistry was so well-written and the many interruptions from Bear and Horse (a horse! haha) made this such a great slow-burn. Oak was such a cinnamon roll and I loved him!
One thing I thought was cool about this book was that Isolde's scenes were written in first person and the rest were in third. I haven't read many books that include various types of POV and I really liked it.
Overall this was a lovely romance and I was eager to journey through the forest with the characters as they fought zombies and saved the dying forest!! 5 stars!
This romantic fantasy was absolutely marvelous. The romance between Tristan (Oak) and Isolde (Sparrow) was the ideal combination of sweet and spicy. The chemistry was so well-written and the many interruptions from Bear and Horse (a horse! haha) made this such a great slow-burn. Oak was such a cinnamon roll and I loved him!
One thing I thought was cool about this book was that Isolde's scenes were written in first person and the rest were in third. I haven't read many books that include various types of POV and I really liked it.
Overall this was a lovely romance and I was eager to journey through the forest with the characters as they fought zombies and saved the dying forest!! 5 stars!
October 4, 2023
SPFBO9 Semi-Finalist Review
Originally posted on Fantasy Book Critic
6.5/10
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is an inventive romantasy retelling of the classic tragedy Tristan and Isolde. And whether you are familiar with this source material or not, this story will undoubtedly manage to surprise you in the most unexpected ways. It’s magical, entrancing, intense, unsettling, charming, alluring, mysterious, spicy, surprisingly dark, and… oh right, it has zombies!
For over a hundred years, no one has come out of the forest alive… until the peculiar child that has just inexplicably wandered out of there. The King sends sorceress Isolde, going by the name of Sparrow, out on a mission to investigate and eliminate the assumed threat. So, together with Bear, her mysterious newly assigned bodyguard, she travels to the town of Perdition to complete this supposedly easy task. However, no one could have suspected that the child would be a creature from myth and legend who would whisk her away deep into the forest for his own desperate needs.
Now, fantasy romance/romantasy stories are a very hard sell for me personally, so I was a bit nervous to dive into this one. Slow-burn romances will always be my preference, but I actually was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the instalove/instalust scenario here.
The dynamic between Sparrow/Isolde and Oak/Tristan was very compelling and I appreciated that they both had very strong character development and personal motivations outside of their romance. Also, their instant attraction is very believable because of the magical bond/entangling that pulls them together, so I was quite on-board for their passionate feelings towards each other from the get-go.
Though, as much as I enjoyed the dynamic between Sparrow and Oak, I do think that the plot and pacing suffered a bit from the big focus on their attraction and lust for each other. Especially during the middle third of the book, I found myself wishing that they could just be in a scene together without becoming aroused or constantly dropping sexual innuendos into their conversations.
Luckily, those pacing issues were somewhat alleviated by the unique multi-POV storytelling, with Sparrow’s chapters being written in first person and the two male POVs in third person. That contrast kept the narrative feeling fresh and I really enjoyed viewing the other characters through each other’s eyes.
It did take me a bit to warm up to Bear’s perspective, but once he met up again with Sparrow and Oak, the banter and tension between the three became very entertaining. Also, I really enjoyed his amusing animal companion, the horse named Horse, who has just as much personality as the main three protagonists.
The unsettling and mesmerising atmosphere of the dangerous woods ended up being one of my favourite aspects of the story. I desperately wanted to discover more about the mysterious force that was threatening the forest, and while I wasn’t expecting so many gruesome horror elements here (hello creepy reanimated corpses), I actually really enjoyed how much tension and suspense they added to the story.
I also enjoyed the depiction of the Fae here, because I thought it was a nice and refreshing take compared to the overly sexualised Fae stories with all their convoluted court politics that have become so popular in recent years. Here, the Fae live as lone wolves and they all have their own magical affinities, which I thought was so interesting and fun. Though, they are still appropriately treacherous and vicious, except for Oak of course, he is a lovely cinnamon roll… mostly.
I think I ultimately could have enjoyed this story more if it had struck a more even balance between the romance and the mystery elements of the plot. Though, I also fully acknowledge that was not the project of this story, and there’s simply no denying that it delivered exactly on what it promised.
Ultimately, I am very glad that I just sat back and trusted the author to bring it all together, because the ending was everything I could have asked for and immediately made me forgive a lot of the little nitpicks I had along the way.
If you are looking for a beautifully written and highly atmospheric fantasy romance with lots of angst, sexual tension, alluring Fae, mysterious magic, entertaining banter, and some surprising horror elements, then I can’t recommend The Sparrow and the Oak Tree highly enough!
Originally posted on Fantasy Book Critic
6.5/10
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is an inventive romantasy retelling of the classic tragedy Tristan and Isolde. And whether you are familiar with this source material or not, this story will undoubtedly manage to surprise you in the most unexpected ways. It’s magical, entrancing, intense, unsettling, charming, alluring, mysterious, spicy, surprisingly dark, and… oh right, it has zombies!
For over a hundred years, no one has come out of the forest alive… until the peculiar child that has just inexplicably wandered out of there. The King sends sorceress Isolde, going by the name of Sparrow, out on a mission to investigate and eliminate the assumed threat. So, together with Bear, her mysterious newly assigned bodyguard, she travels to the town of Perdition to complete this supposedly easy task. However, no one could have suspected that the child would be a creature from myth and legend who would whisk her away deep into the forest for his own desperate needs.
Now, fantasy romance/romantasy stories are a very hard sell for me personally, so I was a bit nervous to dive into this one. Slow-burn romances will always be my preference, but I actually was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the instalove/instalust scenario here.
The dynamic between Sparrow/Isolde and Oak/Tristan was very compelling and I appreciated that they both had very strong character development and personal motivations outside of their romance. Also, their instant attraction is very believable because of the magical bond/entangling that pulls them together, so I was quite on-board for their passionate feelings towards each other from the get-go.
Though, as much as I enjoyed the dynamic between Sparrow and Oak, I do think that the plot and pacing suffered a bit from the big focus on their attraction and lust for each other. Especially during the middle third of the book, I found myself wishing that they could just be in a scene together without becoming aroused or constantly dropping sexual innuendos into their conversations.
Luckily, those pacing issues were somewhat alleviated by the unique multi-POV storytelling, with Sparrow’s chapters being written in first person and the two male POVs in third person. That contrast kept the narrative feeling fresh and I really enjoyed viewing the other characters through each other’s eyes.
It did take me a bit to warm up to Bear’s perspective, but once he met up again with Sparrow and Oak, the banter and tension between the three became very entertaining. Also, I really enjoyed his amusing animal companion, the horse named Horse, who has just as much personality as the main three protagonists.
The unsettling and mesmerising atmosphere of the dangerous woods ended up being one of my favourite aspects of the story. I desperately wanted to discover more about the mysterious force that was threatening the forest, and while I wasn’t expecting so many gruesome horror elements here (hello creepy reanimated corpses), I actually really enjoyed how much tension and suspense they added to the story.
I also enjoyed the depiction of the Fae here, because I thought it was a nice and refreshing take compared to the overly sexualised Fae stories with all their convoluted court politics that have become so popular in recent years. Here, the Fae live as lone wolves and they all have their own magical affinities, which I thought was so interesting and fun. Though, they are still appropriately treacherous and vicious, except for Oak of course, he is a lovely cinnamon roll… mostly.
I think I ultimately could have enjoyed this story more if it had struck a more even balance between the romance and the mystery elements of the plot. Though, I also fully acknowledge that was not the project of this story, and there’s simply no denying that it delivered exactly on what it promised.
Ultimately, I am very glad that I just sat back and trusted the author to bring it all together, because the ending was everything I could have asked for and immediately made me forgive a lot of the little nitpicks I had along the way.
If you are looking for a beautifully written and highly atmospheric fantasy romance with lots of angst, sexual tension, alluring Fae, mysterious magic, entertaining banter, and some surprising horror elements, then I can’t recommend The Sparrow and the Oak Tree highly enough!
September 20, 2023
Zombies and mages and Fae, Oh MY!
Color me CURIOUS!! This was a fun little spicy action/adventure romantasy standalone. It was start to finish, fast paced, and with multiple POV’s- I was hooked & intrigued where the plot would be going.
It’s definitely insta-love and ngl sometimes kinda corny. 🤭 But the spice was right🔥🔥, it was funny at times and tbh- sometimes this is exactly what you need!
Perfect little pick me up!
This is certainly a NA/medium to hot spice. The spice doesn’t detract from the plot. It’s not overly graphic- but not FTB. Thought it was well done.
Color me CURIOUS!! This was a fun little spicy action/adventure romantasy standalone. It was start to finish, fast paced, and with multiple POV’s- I was hooked & intrigued where the plot would be going.
It’s definitely insta-love and ngl sometimes kinda corny. 🤭 But the spice was right🔥🔥, it was funny at times and tbh- sometimes this is exactly what you need!
Perfect little pick me up!
This is certainly a NA/medium to hot spice. The spice doesn’t detract from the plot. It’s not overly graphic- but not FTB. Thought it was well done.
March 14, 2023
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is a fantasy romance novel, written by Jamie Jackson. It is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, one of my favourite tragedies, so picking it with the excuse of the book tour was perfect.
The sorceress Isolde gets sent to deal with a mysterious child that has appeared in Perdition town, with the company of a knight (not really), who refuses to give his real name to Isolde, so we will call him Bear. In this world, names have power, so it's something not given lightly.Well, as you can have guessed at this point, the mysterious child is in reality a Fae, a legendary creature with such a bad reputation; he has infiltrated among the people in order to attract a magician to Perdition, in order to gather its help.
Our particular Fae kidnaps Isolde, with the purpose of using her magic to heal his forest. Sadly for him, Isolde is a sorceress, something that will make things more difficult; and to complicate more things, they start having relations between the both, even developing some affection among them.
Retellings are such a weird beast to write. On one hand, you want it to be kinda easy to recognize from the outside, but on the other, you don't want to write a blatant rip-off. In this case, I have to applaud Jackson, because she has made an excellent job of making this retelling work; we can recognise that we are reading the tragedy of those two lovers, but there are enough original elements to make it interesting to read by itself. Also, the addition of zombies in the forest is great.
While usually I don't read books as spicy as this one, I enjoyed reading it, as the sex scenes were well-written. They feel really natural to me; and something that fits perfectly into the narration rather than being forced into it.
I had small problems with pacing, which is probably why this read didn't land in the 5-star territory for me, especially with how the middle of the book felt a little bit dragging for me.
Said that, I totally recommend The Sparrow and the Oak Tree if you are looking for a more oniric narration of the Tristan and Isolde tragedy. A must-read for romantasy enjoyers.
The sorceress Isolde gets sent to deal with a mysterious child that has appeared in Perdition town, with the company of a knight (not really), who refuses to give his real name to Isolde, so we will call him Bear. In this world, names have power, so it's something not given lightly.Well, as you can have guessed at this point, the mysterious child is in reality a Fae, a legendary creature with such a bad reputation; he has infiltrated among the people in order to attract a magician to Perdition, in order to gather its help.
Our particular Fae kidnaps Isolde, with the purpose of using her magic to heal his forest. Sadly for him, Isolde is a sorceress, something that will make things more difficult; and to complicate more things, they start having relations between the both, even developing some affection among them.
Retellings are such a weird beast to write. On one hand, you want it to be kinda easy to recognize from the outside, but on the other, you don't want to write a blatant rip-off. In this case, I have to applaud Jackson, because she has made an excellent job of making this retelling work; we can recognise that we are reading the tragedy of those two lovers, but there are enough original elements to make it interesting to read by itself. Also, the addition of zombies in the forest is great.
While usually I don't read books as spicy as this one, I enjoyed reading it, as the sex scenes were well-written. They feel really natural to me; and something that fits perfectly into the narration rather than being forced into it.
I had small problems with pacing, which is probably why this read didn't land in the 5-star territory for me, especially with how the middle of the book felt a little bit dragging for me.
Said that, I totally recommend The Sparrow and the Oak Tree if you are looking for a more oniric narration of the Tristan and Isolde tragedy. A must-read for romantasy enjoyers.
April 2, 2023
Beautiful characters, excellent adventure
I adores this adventure!
The characters are amazing. Sparrow is such a fun protagonist. Their background and motivations are unraveled slowly and I adore seeing her interact and learn. Plus, I love that her nickname is Sparrow.
Bear is such a fun character. I loved every aspect and every circumstance he was in. He reminds me of a big teddy bear and big brother. His relationship is an excellent trait of the story.
Oak was a mystery that grew on me in the best way. I wasn’t sure what to think of him at first but once the plot took off, he stole my heart. “I’m not oblivious, I’m in love.” ❤️
Took me a bit to realize only Sparrow’s POV was in first person but I can see why the author made that decision. It suits the story well.
Go and read this. It’ll steal your heart in the best of ways.
I adores this adventure!
The characters are amazing. Sparrow is such a fun protagonist. Their background and motivations are unraveled slowly and I adore seeing her interact and learn. Plus, I love that her nickname is Sparrow.
Bear is such a fun character. I loved every aspect and every circumstance he was in. He reminds me of a big teddy bear and big brother. His relationship is an excellent trait of the story.
Oak was a mystery that grew on me in the best way. I wasn’t sure what to think of him at first but once the plot took off, he stole my heart. “I’m not oblivious, I’m in love.” ❤️
Took me a bit to realize only Sparrow’s POV was in first person but I can see why the author made that decision. It suits the story well.
Go and read this. It’ll steal your heart in the best of ways.
July 4, 2024
This sat on my TBR pile/mountain for entirely too long and I regret that. Because wow, I wish I read through this earlier and had it in my life and in my head longer. Sparrow, Bear, Oak, Horse. I love all four of them. The blending of three different genres, two of which are my favorite, had me eager to keep reading even when my eyes wanted to close for bed time.
Fantasy, Horror, and a dash or more of romance? Never would have considered that a blend that worked, but here we are. The author pulled it off masterfully, and as always, I am a fan.
Fantasy, Horror, and a dash or more of romance? Never would have considered that a blend that worked, but here we are. The author pulled it off masterfully, and as always, I am a fan.
May 10, 2023
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is a romantic fantasy (romantasy?) retelling of the classic tragedy of Tristan and Isolde. In this version of the courtly love story, the couple are a fae and a sorceress, respectively and are brought together by Tristan’s need for a sorceress to help him rid his forest of ‘a sickness’ which I will not go into as it could be considered a spoiler. To the fae the power of a real name is absolute, so he calls himself Oak, and Isolde is equally wary to give away her real name, so uses the nickname she earned at court: Sparrow. A feeling of fairytale unreality pervades the story right from the beginning and there is a sense that anything could happen in this world and that concrete explanations are not really needed.
A mystery is introduced at the beginning of the book. The King has ordered his only sorceress on a mission to investigate a strange child who has come out of the forest and presented himself at the town of Perdition. No one has come from the forest alive for over a hundred years, so who can this child possibly be and what is his intent? The King wants him destroyed and Sparrow is given the task. A bodyguard who calls himself Bear is accompanying Sparrow on her mission, but little do they suspect that before long they will end up deep within the forest, battling for their lives and discussing how much the fae should not be trusted.
I enjoyed the easy relationship between Sparrow and Bear. They had only known each other for a couple of weeks but their conversation was relaxed and felt natural, as if they had quickly built up a rapport and trusted one another. I loved Bear’s steady, fatherlike character. He was determined to protect Sparrow’s honour as well as her life, despite it becoming clear as the story developed that her heart might have already been captured and her honour was probably a lost cause.
The scenes between Sparrow and Oak were smoulderingly sexy as the author draws out their attraction and makes them wait for as long as possible. Bear seems to have a knack for knowing exactly when to interrupt them and where to find them. Even his horse gets in on the action, accompanying Sparrow in the garden when Oak hopes to find her alone. Some of these scenes seem to have a tongue-in-cheek sense of wry humour as Oak sets Sparrow’s heart on fire while wiping pieces of gore off her skin and hair. Oak has been alone since his mother left him and at many hundreds of years old, his lack of experience entertaining guests or holding conversations helps to highlight his lonely existence. No wonder he falls head over heels for the first female who comes along! He is a being of nature and trees and plants respond to him, growing and flowering at a flick of his hand. He also has a woody scent and unseasonable warmth about him which, when added to his appearance, help make him irresistible to Sparrow. His connection to his forest home is deeper than he is letting on – his health dependent on that of the forest, which is well-depicted and easy to imagine – the world-building in this book is solidly descriptive.
Sparrow is the only character whose scenes are written from first person perspective and this helps the reader share some deeper insight into how she is feeling about her companions. She is somewhat taken by surprise by the strength of her desire for Oak and cannot be sure if this is a real feeling or one brought upon her by the fae’s magic.
I do have a couple of negative things to say about the pacing. I felt the part in the forest where the three characters were traveling to its centre was a little drawn out and occasionally repetitive, whereas the discovery in the centre of the forest could have been a more dramatic ‘big reveal’ after all the time and effort they had spent getting there. I didn’t really feel like I understood completely what had happened to Oak when he collapsed and why he didn’t think he would ever be well again. However, these are minor complaints which did not stop me from enjoying the story as a whole.
The Sparrow and The Oak Tree was an easy and enjoyable read with plenty of ‘will they won’t they’ anticipation, leading up to some spicy entanglement. If you enjoy retellings of classic stories with a twist give this one a try!
I was sent a complimentary review copy of this book by the author. Thank you Jamie! My review is honest and my opinions are my own.
A mystery is introduced at the beginning of the book. The King has ordered his only sorceress on a mission to investigate a strange child who has come out of the forest and presented himself at the town of Perdition. No one has come from the forest alive for over a hundred years, so who can this child possibly be and what is his intent? The King wants him destroyed and Sparrow is given the task. A bodyguard who calls himself Bear is accompanying Sparrow on her mission, but little do they suspect that before long they will end up deep within the forest, battling for their lives and discussing how much the fae should not be trusted.
I enjoyed the easy relationship between Sparrow and Bear. They had only known each other for a couple of weeks but their conversation was relaxed and felt natural, as if they had quickly built up a rapport and trusted one another. I loved Bear’s steady, fatherlike character. He was determined to protect Sparrow’s honour as well as her life, despite it becoming clear as the story developed that her heart might have already been captured and her honour was probably a lost cause.
The scenes between Sparrow and Oak were smoulderingly sexy as the author draws out their attraction and makes them wait for as long as possible. Bear seems to have a knack for knowing exactly when to interrupt them and where to find them. Even his horse gets in on the action, accompanying Sparrow in the garden when Oak hopes to find her alone. Some of these scenes seem to have a tongue-in-cheek sense of wry humour as Oak sets Sparrow’s heart on fire while wiping pieces of gore off her skin and hair. Oak has been alone since his mother left him and at many hundreds of years old, his lack of experience entertaining guests or holding conversations helps to highlight his lonely existence. No wonder he falls head over heels for the first female who comes along! He is a being of nature and trees and plants respond to him, growing and flowering at a flick of his hand. He also has a woody scent and unseasonable warmth about him which, when added to his appearance, help make him irresistible to Sparrow. His connection to his forest home is deeper than he is letting on – his health dependent on that of the forest, which is well-depicted and easy to imagine – the world-building in this book is solidly descriptive.
Sparrow is the only character whose scenes are written from first person perspective and this helps the reader share some deeper insight into how she is feeling about her companions. She is somewhat taken by surprise by the strength of her desire for Oak and cannot be sure if this is a real feeling or one brought upon her by the fae’s magic.
I do have a couple of negative things to say about the pacing. I felt the part in the forest where the three characters were traveling to its centre was a little drawn out and occasionally repetitive, whereas the discovery in the centre of the forest could have been a more dramatic ‘big reveal’ after all the time and effort they had spent getting there. I didn’t really feel like I understood completely what had happened to Oak when he collapsed and why he didn’t think he would ever be well again. However, these are minor complaints which did not stop me from enjoying the story as a whole.
The Sparrow and The Oak Tree was an easy and enjoyable read with plenty of ‘will they won’t they’ anticipation, leading up to some spicy entanglement. If you enjoy retellings of classic stories with a twist give this one a try!
I was sent a complimentary review copy of this book by the author. Thank you Jamie! My review is honest and my opinions are my own.
November 18, 2022
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this and let me tell you, this book is going to eat you alive. While reading, I tried to keep to a schedule, right? Only so much per day? HA! No. The characters and the plot sucked me in and I devoured it so much faster than I meant to.
Are you familiar with the tale of Tristan and Isolde? Yes? Great! No? YOU'LL STILL LOVE THIS.
Jamie has a way with characters and banter that makes them all so real in the very best ways. I fell in love with everyone in this book--even when I kind of wanted to throttle some of them.
Verdict: there's nothing Jamie can't write. Seriously. Scifi/super heroes and romantic fantasy are on different spectrums for me, but I love everything she's published. PLEASE give this book a chance, you won't regret it. Magic, court intrigue, adventure, secrets, romance, A WATERFALL SCENE. ahem. Look, I really liked this book, okay?
Are you familiar with the tale of Tristan and Isolde? Yes? Great! No? YOU'LL STILL LOVE THIS.
Jamie has a way with characters and banter that makes them all so real in the very best ways. I fell in love with everyone in this book--even when I kind of wanted to throttle some of them.
Verdict: there's nothing Jamie can't write. Seriously. Scifi/super heroes and romantic fantasy are on different spectrums for me, but I love everything she's published. PLEASE give this book a chance, you won't regret it. Magic, court intrigue, adventure, secrets, romance, A WATERFALL SCENE. ahem. Look, I really liked this book, okay?
March 24, 2024
This was an interesting book! Fantasy Romance with fae, mages, and zombies set in a kind of creepy forest. I really enjoyed it! It was a fun little adventure with just enough spice that it doesn't overwhelm you.
I had no idea going into this that it was a Tristan and Isolde retelling. That made my heart happy, because it had been a while since I'd read one. This is told from 3 PoVs: Tristan, Isolde, and Bear (who is hired as Isolde's "bodyguard" of sorts).
I loved the characters, especially loved the idea of a super smart Horse. My only complaint is I wish we had learned more about what caused the zombies in the first place and a bit more focus on the plot over the connection brewing between Tristan and Isolde, the book left you guessing there at the end, and wrapped up super quickly.
I had no idea going into this that it was a Tristan and Isolde retelling. That made my heart happy, because it had been a while since I'd read one. This is told from 3 PoVs: Tristan, Isolde, and Bear (who is hired as Isolde's "bodyguard" of sorts).
I loved the characters, especially loved the idea of a super smart Horse. My only complaint is I wish we had learned more about what caused the zombies in the first place and a bit more focus on the plot over the connection brewing between Tristan and Isolde, the book left you guessing there at the end, and wrapped up super quickly.
May 24, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.
A fun, action-packed read with an unsettling yet captivating atmosphere about a Fae, a Sorceress, and a Mercenary fighting zombies and trying to save a dying forest.
I usually don't like multiple POVs, and this book has 3, but here it was done so well, I wouldn’t change a thing. I adored the characters, they complemented each perfectly. The chemistry between everyone (including the Horse, the bestest boy) was well-written and absolutely enjoyable.
The romance was beautiful, but it developed too quickly for my taste. It had some insta-love/lust elements, and while there is lore behind it, I still wasn't really a fun of it. I also wish there had been less spice and more adventure.
The action scenes were amazing and descriptive, it was easy to envision what's going on, I loved it.
But the ending felt rushed and messy. It wrapped up too abruptly and left some of my questions unanswered.
Still, I had a great time with this book overall.
A fun, action-packed read with an unsettling yet captivating atmosphere about a Fae, a Sorceress, and a Mercenary fighting zombies and trying to save a dying forest.
I usually don't like multiple POVs, and this book has 3, but here it was done so well, I wouldn’t change a thing. I adored the characters, they complemented each perfectly. The chemistry between everyone (including the Horse, the bestest boy) was well-written and absolutely enjoyable.
The romance was beautiful, but it developed too quickly for my taste. It had some insta-love/lust elements, and while there is lore behind it, I still wasn't really a fun of it. I also wish there had been less spice and more adventure.
The action scenes were amazing and descriptive, it was easy to envision what's going on, I loved it.
But the ending felt rushed and messy. It wrapped up too abruptly and left some of my questions unanswered.
Still, I had a great time with this book overall.
November 28, 2023
As a spiritual retelling of the Celtic-based Tristan and Isolde, a story I was not familiar with, and firmly rooted in the fantasy-romance genre, something I also wouldn't typically seek out, The Sparrow and the Oak Tree deftly carried me through uncharted territory in a way I didn't expect, and the end result is a superbly handled, character-focused romance with a snappy, addicting pace that perfectly toes the line between being unexpectedly dark and sweetly sincere.
I'm a lover of horror in all... well... *most* of its forms, too, and despite this book not outwardly existing within that genre, Jackson weaves a tale of these dangerous woods in a way that invokes the feeling of The Ritual.
It's an adventure, one of many different flavours, and one I'd highly encourage you experience for yourself.
I'm a lover of horror in all... well... *most* of its forms, too, and despite this book not outwardly existing within that genre, Jackson weaves a tale of these dangerous woods in a way that invokes the feeling of The Ritual.
It's an adventure, one of many different flavours, and one I'd highly encourage you experience for yourself.
August 13, 2024
This book hit all of the marks for me.
A whole, realistic world with magic and Fae, rich descriptions, and edge-of-your seat action. Powerful characters who also feel real and make mistakes.
Equal parts spooky AND kiss-y!
The relationship between Sparrow and Oak (Isolde and Tristan) is fiery, like a spark of lightning into dry leaves. Instantaneous fire. There is no denying their chemistry!
I loved the relationship between Bear and Isolde too, how respect blooms between them and Bear tries his best to protect her, even from herself sometimes! And I would be remiss not to mention Horse. He's the best horse companion, comic relief.
So if you enjoy dark romantasy tales with Fae and magic, not least of all some creepy with your kissing (and more 😏), I highly recommend THE SPARROW AND THE OAK TREE!
A whole, realistic world with magic and Fae, rich descriptions, and edge-of-your seat action. Powerful characters who also feel real and make mistakes.
Equal parts spooky AND kiss-y!
The relationship between Sparrow and Oak (Isolde and Tristan) is fiery, like a spark of lightning into dry leaves. Instantaneous fire. There is no denying their chemistry!
I loved the relationship between Bear and Isolde too, how respect blooms between them and Bear tries his best to protect her, even from herself sometimes! And I would be remiss not to mention Horse. He's the best horse companion, comic relief.
So if you enjoy dark romantasy tales with Fae and magic, not least of all some creepy with your kissing (and more 😏), I highly recommend THE SPARROW AND THE OAK TREE!
March 16, 2023
Isolde and her mercenary companion, Bear, are o a mission for the king when she is taken by a Fae. The pact they make works as the “love potion” in this retelling. Their passion evolves into a different type of feeling, leading to some insta-love mechanics that make the romance not fully work for me.
My favourite part was definitely Bear. He’s determined and smart and he worries Isolde is being coerced to get involved with the Fae. As the third wheel, he takes it upon himself to chaperone.
I really enjoyed it, but I would’ve liked some details to be explored more as some questions were left unanswered.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com...
My favourite part was definitely Bear. He’s determined and smart and he worries Isolde is being coerced to get involved with the Fae. As the third wheel, he takes it upon himself to chaperone.
I really enjoyed it, but I would’ve liked some details to be explored more as some questions were left unanswered.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com...
September 12, 2023
She's bound to me," Oak hissed the words out. "From this point, she's mine untill I release her."
☆The Sparrow and the Oak Tree
☆by Jamie Jackson @villainleaning
☆Romantasy
☆FMC Isolde/Sparrow, Sorceress
☆MMC Tristan/Oak, Forest Fae
☆Enemies to lovers
☆Forced proximity
☆Elemental Magic
☆Lots of Zombies
☆Banter
☆He falls first
☆Sexual Tension/lust
☆Spice
☆Switch between First and Third person
Oak and Sparrow together are great, Oak can't keep his hands off her. And with the mercenary Bear, and a Horse named Horse, as chaperone, there were so many funny moments.
And as Sparrow, the only sorceress in the land, teams up with Oak to strengthen her fire magic, there are lots of Zombies blocking their way on their quest to save the forest and Oak from dying.
☆The Sparrow and the Oak Tree
☆by Jamie Jackson @villainleaning
☆Romantasy
☆FMC Isolde/Sparrow, Sorceress
☆MMC Tristan/Oak, Forest Fae
☆Enemies to lovers
☆Forced proximity
☆Elemental Magic
☆Lots of Zombies
☆Banter
☆He falls first
☆Sexual Tension/lust
☆Spice
☆Switch between First and Third person
Oak and Sparrow together are great, Oak can't keep his hands off her. And with the mercenary Bear, and a Horse named Horse, as chaperone, there were so many funny moments.
And as Sparrow, the only sorceress in the land, teams up with Oak to strengthen her fire magic, there are lots of Zombies blocking their way on their quest to save the forest and Oak from dying.
December 8, 2022
What an alluring fantasy that really surprised me! We meet main character Isolde as she's on her way to investigate the appearance of a child who has emerged from haunted woods. Next to her, a mysterious stranger clad in chainmail rides. Jackson quickly whips us into a magical world full of danger and strange creatures. My only issue was the switch back and forth from first person to third -- I will say this did take me out of the story somewhat, but any fantasy fan will want to pick this one up and add it to their reading list. As always, Jackson delights! (Note: I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
May 30, 2023
As someone who loves retellings, this was a beautifully written romantic fantasy. This isn’t a book I would normally pick up, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I loved the main characters and the dynamic between their relationship. There is so much packed into this story! I will warn future readers, this book has some content warnings including: sex, blood and gore, and harsh language. If you are looking for a romantic retelling with a bit of spice this may be the book for you.
September 24, 2024
I kept telling myself not to cry, but I did anyway.
This was a great fantasy story and an even greater love story. I far preferred it to the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde that inspired it.
This was a great fantasy story and an even greater love story. I far preferred it to the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde that inspired it.
July 10, 2023
4.5
Oh my goodness that ending gave me chills! A beautiful retelling of Tristan and Isolde, it had enough spice to heat up my cold little heart
Oh my goodness that ending gave me chills! A beautiful retelling of Tristan and Isolde, it had enough spice to heat up my cold little heart
March 13, 2023
This is everything you could want from a modern adaptation of the old story. It's so good. I really love the characters and the addition of fae to it. This author is one to watch.
May 28, 2024
Felt like nothing about the plot was fully fleshed out. Was a very slow read. Focused so much on the attraction between Tristan and Isolde that the more interesting plot points were just glossed over. Do we know what caused the illness? Did I miss that? Why did the king have Isolde's loyalty and duty? Just because he had her name? Why was Horse so smart? Just because? What was Bear's story with the fae? The mayor was just randomly fae? Did I just blink and miss all of the answers to these questions?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
This novel is a retelling of the tale of Tristan and Isolde. I have to admit I didn’t know this tale very well, so I did some research before picking this up to see what it was all about. When I read it my first thought was that it was a bit of a difficult one to adapt and retell, so I was intrigued. Jamie Jackson took on this challenge and did a fantastic job. I really enjoyed this book.
We follow three main characters. There is Sparrow (Isolde), a sorceress in the service of the king who has been sent on a job to ‘deal with’ a strange child who recently appeared wandering out of a forest that nobody every goes in or out of. We also have Bear, a soldier sent to accompany her and keep her safe. Then there is Oak (Tristan), a Fae, who is very mysterious and unexpectedly stole my heart.
Being a fantasy romance, the romance part of the story takes up a lot of the page time here. It’s done excellently and I had a great time following these two star-crossed lovers. The story does diverge somewhat from the original tale of course but it’s a great adaptation. There were strong Romeo and Juliet vibes making this story equal parts sweet and charming, and tragic at the same time. There was potential for this story to feel like ‘insta-love’ but it does not fall into that territory at all. The relationship between the two main characters was built up so well for the short page count.
I really loved the characters and how they were written. I found Isolde to be a strong heroine but not in the ‘warrior woman’ kind of way that is becoming so common in a lot of books these days. There is nothing wrong with that, but it was great to read about a heroine who is comfortable in who she is while still taking care of herself when it counts. Bear was also one I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did. I would have liked to see a bit more depth for his character but what we did get was great. His mysterious past is told to us somewhat but I feel there could have been room to expand on this too, making him a more rounded character overall. Also, like any good fantasy romance the banter is top notch.
There is a good balance between the romance scenes and the action, making the pacing quite fast for the book overall. There are even undead zombies, so this book really does have it all! It’s also a standalone, which is always welcome to me as I slowly drown in all the lengthy fantasy book series on my tbr. The ending is also wonderful and left me a bit shook to be honest.
Highly recommended if you are looking for a fun, refreshing romance story and if you want to read a retelling that stands out from the crowd.
We follow three main characters. There is Sparrow (Isolde), a sorceress in the service of the king who has been sent on a job to ‘deal with’ a strange child who recently appeared wandering out of a forest that nobody every goes in or out of. We also have Bear, a soldier sent to accompany her and keep her safe. Then there is Oak (Tristan), a Fae, who is very mysterious and unexpectedly stole my heart.
Being a fantasy romance, the romance part of the story takes up a lot of the page time here. It’s done excellently and I had a great time following these two star-crossed lovers. The story does diverge somewhat from the original tale of course but it’s a great adaptation. There were strong Romeo and Juliet vibes making this story equal parts sweet and charming, and tragic at the same time. There was potential for this story to feel like ‘insta-love’ but it does not fall into that territory at all. The relationship between the two main characters was built up so well for the short page count.
I really loved the characters and how they were written. I found Isolde to be a strong heroine but not in the ‘warrior woman’ kind of way that is becoming so common in a lot of books these days. There is nothing wrong with that, but it was great to read about a heroine who is comfortable in who she is while still taking care of herself when it counts. Bear was also one I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did. I would have liked to see a bit more depth for his character but what we did get was great. His mysterious past is told to us somewhat but I feel there could have been room to expand on this too, making him a more rounded character overall. Also, like any good fantasy romance the banter is top notch.
There is a good balance between the romance scenes and the action, making the pacing quite fast for the book overall. There are even undead zombies, so this book really does have it all! It’s also a standalone, which is always welcome to me as I slowly drown in all the lengthy fantasy book series on my tbr. The ending is also wonderful and left me a bit shook to be honest.
Highly recommended if you are looking for a fun, refreshing romance story and if you want to read a retelling that stands out from the crowd.
March 12, 2023
Check out my stop on the book tour for this book at: https://at.tumblr.com/fairrryprose/bo...
This book has a very cozy cast of characters, mainly revolving around 3 (4 if you count the horse named Horse!) -- Isolde ("Sparrow"), our Sorceress; Tristan ("Oak"), our Fae; and Bear, Isolde's guardian with a mysterious past with the Fae.
As a fantasy romance, it leans more heavily towards romance, where the love story between Tristan and Isolde is the crux of it and unfolds like a sweet (and tragic) whirlwind; it deviates from the Celtic legend and reminds me much more of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The story is fast, with emphasis on developing the romance, and I felt this made the other characters and other plot elements fade into the background. For instance, we have Bear, who has had dealings with the Fae before, and these are alluded to, yet it's not too deeply delved into, which is a shame as I thought it could have added more to his characterization, to endear him as a solid character to us and not someone who's just comic relief-ish/the more solemn and serious character who keeps everyone on track and fixated on their goals. He's a more realistic and grounded character, with depth to be uncovered, while Tristan and Isolde are more reminiscent of dreamers in love.
There's also magic, deals with the Fae -- as one would probably expect from a Fae story -- and, in a turn of events, zombies. I thought that the action could've been more detailed/intense and with more worldbuilding, but the romance was really well-developed that what occurred at the end did make my jaw drop.
If you're looking for a bittersweet love story with hints of magic and action, this is the book for you!
This book has a very cozy cast of characters, mainly revolving around 3 (4 if you count the horse named Horse!) -- Isolde ("Sparrow"), our Sorceress; Tristan ("Oak"), our Fae; and Bear, Isolde's guardian with a mysterious past with the Fae.
As a fantasy romance, it leans more heavily towards romance, where the love story between Tristan and Isolde is the crux of it and unfolds like a sweet (and tragic) whirlwind; it deviates from the Celtic legend and reminds me much more of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The story is fast, with emphasis on developing the romance, and I felt this made the other characters and other plot elements fade into the background. For instance, we have Bear, who has had dealings with the Fae before, and these are alluded to, yet it's not too deeply delved into, which is a shame as I thought it could have added more to his characterization, to endear him as a solid character to us and not someone who's just comic relief-ish/the more solemn and serious character who keeps everyone on track and fixated on their goals. He's a more realistic and grounded character, with depth to be uncovered, while Tristan and Isolde are more reminiscent of dreamers in love.
There's also magic, deals with the Fae -- as one would probably expect from a Fae story -- and, in a turn of events, zombies. I thought that the action could've been more detailed/intense and with more worldbuilding, but the romance was really well-developed that what occurred at the end did make my jaw drop.
If you're looking for a bittersweet love story with hints of magic and action, this is the book for you!
December 2, 2023
When I first picked this up, I wasn't sure if it would be too much of a fluffy romance for me, but I'm a fan of Jamie Jackson's other books so I trusted her, and I'm so glad I did! In this retelling of Tristan and Isolde, Jackson navigates that fine line of delivering the expected tropes of a fae fantasy while giving us something new and interesting very well, and I devoured this book in just a few days.
Where insta-lust could have been frustrating, there is lore behind it which makes it not only plausible, but integral to the story, and I enjoyed the quickly developing romance unfolding alongside the mysterious adventure to rescue Tristan's forest. The spicy scenes were excellently done, feeling natural within the plot and achieving the right balance of providing heat without any cringe.
This is by no means an epic fantasy, but that works in its favour. We're given glimpses of world-building that is just enough to provide a credible background for the plot, without overburdening us with court politics and a myriad of characters that we simply don't need for the story to be successful. I particularly enjoyed the unsettling feeling when the 'ending' seemed to happen a little too easily, and the dramatic events that followed.
In a way, this is a very simple book, but that means the execution has to be excellent to be able to pull it off, as there isn't tons of fluff to hide behind. Thankfully, Jamie manages this brilliantly, giving us a very enjoyable story that I would gladly read again.
Where insta-lust could have been frustrating, there is lore behind it which makes it not only plausible, but integral to the story, and I enjoyed the quickly developing romance unfolding alongside the mysterious adventure to rescue Tristan's forest. The spicy scenes were excellently done, feeling natural within the plot and achieving the right balance of providing heat without any cringe.
This is by no means an epic fantasy, but that works in its favour. We're given glimpses of world-building that is just enough to provide a credible background for the plot, without overburdening us with court politics and a myriad of characters that we simply don't need for the story to be successful. I particularly enjoyed the unsettling feeling when the 'ending' seemed to happen a little too easily, and the dramatic events that followed.
In a way, this is a very simple book, but that means the execution has to be excellent to be able to pull it off, as there isn't tons of fluff to hide behind. Thankfully, Jamie manages this brilliantly, giving us a very enjoyable story that I would gladly read again.
May 27, 2024
The cover had me expecting something totally different, but I was pleasantly surprised with this story!
This is a Tristan and Isolde retelling. Isolde is Tristans only hope to save the forest from the sickness.
There was a beautiful romance blooming and even some horror elements that I absolutely loved. It was an alluring, romantic, and horror adventure. The story was definitely more focused on the romance than the plot, and I think due to that, we lost some major backstory.
The writing was beautiful and so captivating. It flowed so well off the page, and I felt immersed in the world. I don't typically like spice, but even that was well written and had me falling in love with the main characters.
I liked the triple pov aspect with Isolde's POV being written in first and the other two in third. I really like all the characters. Isolde was sweet and had a pure heart but fierce and powerful when she needed to be. Tristan was unlike other faes and had such a big heart. His love for Isolde left my heart melting. Bear was like the big brother of the group, wise, but he also kept things entertaining with his banter.
The fight scences were so gruesome and descriptive, and I was eating it up.
I also really enjoyed the pacing of this book it was short but fast-paced and kept me hooked.
I honestly did not expect it to end that way. I do feel like some questions were left unanswered, which is gnawing at me a little, but overall, I really enjoyed this, and it felt like nothing I've read before.
This is a Tristan and Isolde retelling. Isolde is Tristans only hope to save the forest from the sickness.
There was a beautiful romance blooming and even some horror elements that I absolutely loved. It was an alluring, romantic, and horror adventure. The story was definitely more focused on the romance than the plot, and I think due to that, we lost some major backstory.
The writing was beautiful and so captivating. It flowed so well off the page, and I felt immersed in the world. I don't typically like spice, but even that was well written and had me falling in love with the main characters.
I liked the triple pov aspect with Isolde's POV being written in first and the other two in third. I really like all the characters. Isolde was sweet and had a pure heart but fierce and powerful when she needed to be. Tristan was unlike other faes and had such a big heart. His love for Isolde left my heart melting. Bear was like the big brother of the group, wise, but he also kept things entertaining with his banter.
The fight scences were so gruesome and descriptive, and I was eating it up.
I also really enjoyed the pacing of this book it was short but fast-paced and kept me hooked.
I honestly did not expect it to end that way. I do feel like some questions were left unanswered, which is gnawing at me a little, but overall, I really enjoyed this, and it felt like nothing I've read before.
March 15, 2023
I adored the hell out of this standalone novel. From the world building to the character depth, this ended up being a fast paced and consuming fantasy romance that was hot as 🥵.
There's a dark magic taking over Oak's forest, raising the dead and draining the life and power from all it consumes. Sparrow is a sorceress at the becking call of the king sent on missions to do his dirty work. One mission lands her in the presence of Oak.
Then there is Bear. Oh man did I love this gruff fatherly figure. He is the flare of sarcasm that kept the smile plastered on my face.
I did feel some of the plot was lost in the kindling of romance and running through the forests. However, the character chemistry between everyone (including the horse) made this too damn enjoyable to worry about that.
If you're a reader who enjoys:
✔️ Zombie-creating diseased magic
✔️ Fae
✔️ Sorcerers
✔️ Bumchicawawa *eye waggle* scenes
✔️ Smart animal sidekicks
✔️ Humorously gruff fatherly characters
You're going to enjoy the heck out of this novel like I did. Think Pride & Prejudice & Zombies goes Medieval! Action packed scenes paired with a well crafted narrative!
Content/Trigger Warnings:
Shown on Page:
🌿Blood and gore
🌿Harsh language
🌿Sex and sexual situations
Alluded to:
🌿Sexual assault
🌿Possible animal harm (the horse is unharmed)
There's a dark magic taking over Oak's forest, raising the dead and draining the life and power from all it consumes. Sparrow is a sorceress at the becking call of the king sent on missions to do his dirty work. One mission lands her in the presence of Oak.
Then there is Bear. Oh man did I love this gruff fatherly figure. He is the flare of sarcasm that kept the smile plastered on my face.
I did feel some of the plot was lost in the kindling of romance and running through the forests. However, the character chemistry between everyone (including the horse) made this too damn enjoyable to worry about that.
If you're a reader who enjoys:
✔️ Zombie-creating diseased magic
✔️ Fae
✔️ Sorcerers
✔️ Bumchicawawa *eye waggle* scenes
✔️ Smart animal sidekicks
✔️ Humorously gruff fatherly characters
You're going to enjoy the heck out of this novel like I did. Think Pride & Prejudice & Zombies goes Medieval! Action packed scenes paired with a well crafted narrative!
Content/Trigger Warnings:
Shown on Page:
🌿Blood and gore
🌿Harsh language
🌿Sex and sexual situations
Alluded to:
🌿Sexual assault
🌿Possible animal harm (the horse is unharmed)
May 7, 2024
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4⭐️
𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤? 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬. 𝐀𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐲𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝...
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫.
You know what I love? When a book is absolutely shocking and nothing like I expected. That’s exactly what The Sparrow on the Oak Tree was for me. It’s based off the classic tragedy of Tristan and Isolde, and I had fun doing my research to learn about the original story.
The forest is dying and Isolde is Oak’s only hope at saving his home. There’s mystery, horror elements(hello zombies), and at the core a beautiful romance between our two main characters!
We’re gifted three POVs which always adds to the reading experience! I loved viewing the world through all three of their eyes and experiences. Isolde was at such a war between duty and love, while Oak was just drowning in his growing obsession for her.
This was a perfectly done standalone that I’ll definitely be revisiting in the future!
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
✨Curses
✨Fantasy romance
✨He falls first
✨A hint of horror
✨Delightful banter
✨Mystery
✨Medieval tragedy re-tellings
4⭐️
𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤? 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬. 𝐀𝐬 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐲𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝...
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫.
You know what I love? When a book is absolutely shocking and nothing like I expected. That’s exactly what The Sparrow on the Oak Tree was for me. It’s based off the classic tragedy of Tristan and Isolde, and I had fun doing my research to learn about the original story.
The forest is dying and Isolde is Oak’s only hope at saving his home. There’s mystery, horror elements(hello zombies), and at the core a beautiful romance between our two main characters!
We’re gifted three POVs which always adds to the reading experience! I loved viewing the world through all three of their eyes and experiences. Isolde was at such a war between duty and love, while Oak was just drowning in his growing obsession for her.
This was a perfectly done standalone that I’ll definitely be revisiting in the future!
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
✨Curses
✨Fantasy romance
✨He falls first
✨A hint of horror
✨Delightful banter
✨Mystery
✨Medieval tragedy re-tellings
July 14, 2023
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree successfully reimagines the Tristan and Isolde story.
In this retelling, Jamie Jackson breathes new life into a legendary tale, infusing it with emotional depth, intricate world-building, and compelling characters. "The Sparrow and the Oak Tree" is a captivating novel that explores the timeless themes of love, fate, and sacrifice. Readers familiar with the original legend will appreciate the fresh perspective, while newcomers will find themselves immersed in a tale that combines romance, adventure, and tragedy with skill and imagination.
In this retelling, Jamie Jackson breathes new life into a legendary tale, infusing it with emotional depth, intricate world-building, and compelling characters. "The Sparrow and the Oak Tree" is a captivating novel that explores the timeless themes of love, fate, and sacrifice. Readers familiar with the original legend will appreciate the fresh perspective, while newcomers will find themselves immersed in a tale that combines romance, adventure, and tragedy with skill and imagination.
February 11, 2025
Romantasy between a fae and a sorceress
Slow beginning but the romance gets pretty spicy starting around 40% in. Nice balance of plot and romance. The world building and magic system supporting the plot is very solid. The romance between Sparrow and Oak is hot and sweet, but they have to overcome enemies and their circumstances. Having a third person in their band of heroes was well done. Bear was the perfect referee and camp counselor they needed to fight next to them, keep them going, and remind them of priorities.
Slow beginning but the romance gets pretty spicy starting around 40% in. Nice balance of plot and romance. The world building and magic system supporting the plot is very solid. The romance between Sparrow and Oak is hot and sweet, but they have to overcome enemies and their circumstances. Having a third person in their band of heroes was well done. Bear was the perfect referee and camp counselor they needed to fight next to them, keep them going, and remind them of priorities.
February 14, 2023
Fantasy, magic, romance, and the undead. Honestly this book has everything you could ever need or want and then some. I was immediately immersed into the world of magic and fae, the drama kept me reading and the spicy parts kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved all the characters, morally gray is my favorite color! I can’t say enough good things about this book. I loved it and I think you will too.
July 28, 2024
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Sparrow and the Oak Tree
Thank you to Jamie Jackson for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Isolde is the only sorcerer in the king’s court. And as such, she is a valuable asset and tool. When a mysterious child appears from a forest no one has ever returned, the king sends Isolde to the town of Perdition to deal with him. But when Isolde and her guardian Bear arrive, the two will find there is much more to the tale than a mysterious child.
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is a slow-burn enemies to lovers romantic fantasy. When Isolde is kidnapped by a fae in the mix of the mystery she is to solve, her basic instinct is to run away. All her life she's been told the stories of fae who trap humans. But there is a hard to ignore allure surrounding him—a constant temptation at war with the warnings in her mind.
The connection between Isolde and her fae captor grows in intensity as the story progresses. Readers will have a chance to see through both Isolde and the fae’s eyes, causing a back and forth temptation readers will need to continue reading to watch. And the varying levels of frustration they both feel when Bear does what he can to keep them apart.
Bear takes on the persona of a big brother, truly shining through with his name. And while his interventions will cause frustration there is also comedy and an ever growing romantic tension his actions induce. The relationship between Isolde and Bear is a great counterbalance to the smoldering relationship between Isolde and the Fae.
Romantic fantasy readers who enjoy slow-burn enemies to lovers, The Sparrow and the Oak Tree should be your next read! While it is a mythological retelling, there is no prior knowledge required to enjoy this story.
Thank you to Jamie Jackson for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Isolde is the only sorcerer in the king’s court. And as such, she is a valuable asset and tool. When a mysterious child appears from a forest no one has ever returned, the king sends Isolde to the town of Perdition to deal with him. But when Isolde and her guardian Bear arrive, the two will find there is much more to the tale than a mysterious child.
The Sparrow and the Oak Tree is a slow-burn enemies to lovers romantic fantasy. When Isolde is kidnapped by a fae in the mix of the mystery she is to solve, her basic instinct is to run away. All her life she's been told the stories of fae who trap humans. But there is a hard to ignore allure surrounding him—a constant temptation at war with the warnings in her mind.
The connection between Isolde and her fae captor grows in intensity as the story progresses. Readers will have a chance to see through both Isolde and the fae’s eyes, causing a back and forth temptation readers will need to continue reading to watch. And the varying levels of frustration they both feel when Bear does what he can to keep them apart.
Bear takes on the persona of a big brother, truly shining through with his name. And while his interventions will cause frustration there is also comedy and an ever growing romantic tension his actions induce. The relationship between Isolde and Bear is a great counterbalance to the smoldering relationship between Isolde and the Fae.
Romantic fantasy readers who enjoy slow-burn enemies to lovers, The Sparrow and the Oak Tree should be your next read! While it is a mythological retelling, there is no prior knowledge required to enjoy this story.
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